Guangzhou hosted the 2023 GTI Asia China Expo, one of the major amusement-industry trade shows held after International Bowl Expo. Although this review is based on available show footage and reports rather than an in-person visit, it offers a useful look at new arcade, racing, rhythm and redemption products that could eventually reach Western markets.
The exhibition included established manufacturers, regional distributors and companies that may be less familiar to Australian operators. The range extended from licensed Japanese rhythm games to experimental redemption machines, with several products showing clear international ambitions.
For more arcade-industry coverage, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog.
Wahlap brings licensed Japanese games and a new racer
Wahlap occupied a substantial booth and presented several Japanese properties licensed for the Chinese market. Visitors could see Taiko No Tatsujin, Chunithm and Initial D The Arcade. A tournament was also held for Initial D The Arcade, underlining the competitive appeal of the driving title.
Wahlap’s latest video game at the event was Asphalt Moto Blitz DX. A show highlight reel is available through the GTI Asia China Expo video archive, with another vertical video showing additional titles.
Ace Amusement targets the international market
Ace Amusement has attracted representation for several games in Europe and the United States through distributors, including UDC in Europe. The company was scheduled to occupy a 30-by-20-foot booth at IAAPA in November 2023, and that presentation may have shared elements with its GTI display.
Its major GTI debut was Jet Ski Madness, a personal watercraft racing game aimed at reviving a relatively uncommon arcade format. Unlike Wahlap and Sega’s Jet Blaster, which uses a seated arrangement, Jet Ski Madness has players standing while they race.
Arccer Amusement develops its rhythm-game range
Arccer Amusement is best known for games influenced by Japanese rhythm-machine designs, but its newer releases add further ideas to those established formats. The company displayed Dance Cube 4, the latest version of its MaiMai-style rhythm game, and staged a tournament during the expo.
Arccer also showed Dance Battle, an enlarged and modified take on the DanceRush concept. More footage appears in the first video shared in this show-floor post.
Playmore displays new redemption hardware
Playmore has recently been associated with pusher machines supplied to LAI, including Pearl Fishery and Rick & Morty: Blips and Chitz. The latter began as the unlicensed Solar System, which Sega Amusements sold in European territories before the licensed version appeared.
UDC attended Playmore’s booth, suggesting that some of the company’s newer products could be imported into Europe. The pictured machine was specifically highlighted in a distributor post. LAI could also become involved in bringing selected products to the United States, although that was not confirmed.
Yuto Games combines video and redemption
Yuto Games presented a mixture of video amusement and redemption products. Like Arccer, the company has been moving towards more original concepts, while still having room to develop that side of its catalogue.
The booth also reflected Yuto’s ownership of the InJoy Motion product line. Several related titles remain in production under slightly altered names. Two racers, Showtime and Volt, were visible at the stand, although no further information was available to establish whether they are original creations or rebadged products. Yuto was also expected to exhibit at IAAPA 2023.
Racing machines remain a major part of the arcade market. Australian operators considering this category can compare formats in RETROCADE’s racing arcade collection.
Unidentified machines and unusual concepts
Several products could not be confidently attributed to a manufacturer because their displays were not identified and the available information was in Chinese. They nevertheless provided an interesting snapshot of the wider show.
Mini Pinball
Mini Pinball combines a video pinball presentation with ticket redemption and prize merchandising. The available image does not clearly show flippers, so the exact play experience remains uncertain. Its neighbouring machine suggested that the product may be intended for Western markets, although the manufacturer was not confirmed. UNIS was one possibility because F&F Arcade appeared in the background and is sold by UNIS in China, but another company could have been responsible.
Wireless shooting and BB games
One unidentified gun game appeared to use a fully wireless setup. Beyond its shooter format, few details were clear. The expo also featured several BB-firing machines, following the interest generated by Taito’s OnPoint airsoft and BB-gun concept. Another BB game was photographed at the event, indicating that this format has developed a noticeable presence in the Chinese amusement market.
Boxing and firefighting attractions
A boxing or punching machine was displayed without an obvious video component, relying instead on a highly theatrical cabinet presentation. Another unidentified attraction was a firefighting game that appeared to draw inspiration from Sega’s Brave Firefighters. It was not clear whether the firefighting machine belonged to Ace Amusement; it was not listed on the company’s website, which has limited social-media activity.
Furious Speed and generic cabinets
Furious Speed appeared to be a sequel and a new arcade racer, although its predecessor could not be identified. The promotional artwork on the marquee and booth raised questions about the production process, including whether artificial intelligence had been used in the marketing material or parts of development.
The show also included generic cabinets designed to accept different software packages. However, the quality and legitimacy of the included software were questioned in the available commentary. Buyers comparing cabinet options should first consider compatibility, servicing and software support; RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide covers those practical issues.
What the 2023 expo revealed
GTI Asia China Expo 2023 demonstrated the breadth of the Chinese amusement market, from licensed rhythm and racing games to new redemption formats and machines still difficult to identify from overseas coverage. Wahlap and Ace Amusement showed the clearest international potential, while Arccer, Playmore and Yuto presented products across rhythm, pusher, racing and video-amusement categories.
For Australian venues, the key question is not simply whether a machine looks impressive on a show floor. Cabinet size, licensing, operator support, software reliability and access to replacement arcade parts will all influence whether a product can succeed outside its home market.
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